New Species of Bolivian Killifish Discovered and Described

Spectrolebias bellidoi was discovered in a temporarly pool in Bolivia.

Researchers have discovered a new species of killifish from Bolivia. The small fish, Spectrolebias bellidoi, was found in a temporary pool located in the upper Río Grande, Río Mamoré basin, Departamento Santa Cruz.

It is unique from its congeners due to the shape of the anal fin of the female. The anal fin has a rounded anterior area and a posterior area that gets smaller in size. The female also sports a higher number of anal fin rays, at 30 versus 21-28 for males. The fish is a beautiful light blue with white spots starting from the back of the fish right around the beginning of the dorsal and anal fins. It has two pinkish stripes that run vertically down its back that conveniently separates the body coloration. Forward of these stripes, the fish has a body that is free of spots and is creamish in coloration.

Fish of the order Cyprinodontiformes are generally small freshwater fish that include killifish and live-bearers. They are divided into three groups: viviparous and ovoviviparous (live birth), and oviparous (egg-layers).

The title of the paper is Pillet: Spectrolebias bellidoi, a new annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae: Cynolebiatinae) from the upper Río Grande basin, Amazon basin, Bolivia, an abstract which is found at Aquapress.com